schneider



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. SCHNEIDER. LOADING APPARATUS FOR 'TURRET GUNS.

No. 397,310. Patented Feb. 5, 1889. FIG I- N FETERS, PhnIo-Lilhogrnplwn Washinglm m a (No Model.) A 3 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

H. SCHNEIDER. LOADING APPARATUS FOR TURRET GUNS.

No. 397,310. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

FIG a (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. SCHNEIDER. LOADING APPARATUS FOR TURRET GUNS.

No. 397,310. Patentedf'eb. 5, 1889.

N. PETERS" Phn'n-Ulhognphu. Washington, D c.

'UNITED STATES HENRI SCHNEIDER,

PATENT OFFICE.

or PARIS, ERANUE] LOADING APPARATUS FOR TURRET-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,310, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed November 14, 1888. Serial No. 290,854.

To all whom it 12mg concern:

Be it known that 1, HENRI SCHNEIDER, manager of the firm of Schneider & Ole, m anufacturers, of Le Creuzot, (Saone-et-Loire,) and a resident of Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented Improvements in Apparatus for Moving and Elevating Ammunition for LoadingTurret-Guns, (which have been patented in France byPatcnt No. 191,718, dated July 12, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvement-s in apparatus for moving and elevating ammunition for loading turret-guns; and it has for its object facilitating the transport and elevation of the projectiles or cartridges from the holds or magazine to the level of the breech of the gun and enabling this operation to be performed with ease and expedition when the gun is pointing in any direction; and in order that my said invention may be fully understood 1 shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in vertical section, a ships turret provided with an apparatus according to this invention, the section being taken fore and aft of the vessel. Fig. 2 is a corresponding section in the direction of the beam or transversely to the keel; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 1 2,Fig. 1.

This turret carries two guns, A A, Fig. 2, served by two elevators communicating with the store or magazine in the lower part of the vessel. Each elevator is provided with a cage or platform, (1, constructed to carry a cartridge carriage or trolley, V, and working on two straight inclined guides or ways, G G, being operated by a hydraulic press, P, Fig. 1, by means of a suitable combination of chains and pulleys. These elevators work in a well, Q, provided at the lower part with a platform, 13, rotating on a vertical axis, being supported by rollers a, traveling on an annular or circular way. This platform. is provided with any suitable mechanism or gear by which it can be rotated independently of (No model.) Patented in France July 12, 1888, No.191,748.

the turret, being at the same time capable of turning or revolving with the turret, which is supported on rollers D, working on an annular guide or way. The said mechanism may be constructed with a horizontal shaft provided with a crank-handle, m, for example, and bevel-gear 1), driving a vertical shaft, 0, provided with a pinion, (7, controlled by a clutch-lever, I, worked by a rod, e. The said clutch-lever is arranged to engage or lock the platform and turret together when itputs the pinion (1 out of gear, and vice versa.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: The elevator cage or platform C being lowered into the position indicated by dotted lines at C, Fig. 1, after the operation of loading, and the rotating platform 15 being connected with the turret, the empty cartridgetrolley V is wheeled onto the platform B. This platform is then disconnected from the turret and shifted, if necessary, in such a manner relatively to the lower part of the well as to place the trolley in a suitable position for receiving its load of ammunition or projectiles and charges. The trolley being loaded, the platform Bis returned to its original position and locked to the tower by means of the lever Z. The trolley is wheeled onto the elevator-cage C, which is now ready to raise the ammunition to the level of the breech of the gun. By these means the guns can be loaded when pointing in any direction, and the ammunition is carried direct from the magazine to the breeches of the guns.

The action or operations hereinbefore described are the same for both guns in the turret when two are cmployethand it is evident that the same system of elevating the ammunition may be employed with turrets carrying one or any number of guns, and that the apparatus is quite independent of the construction and arrangements of the turrets.

I. claim as my invention 1.. The combination, with the turret and wcll,of an elevator cage or cages, guides for the same located in said well, means for raising and lowering the cage or cages, and a platform near the bottom of the well rotatable independently of the turret and well, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the rotatable turret and Well, and With the trolley-earryin g elevator or elevators, of the platform near the bottom of the .Well rotatable independently thereof, mechanism for rotating said platform, and clutch mechanism for looking said platform temporarily to said turret and well, and for disengaging it therefrom, as desired, substantially as described.

'HENRI SCHNEIDER.

\Vitn'esses:

CHARLES BRENOR, LEON FRANOKEN. 

